Tape dispenser



NOV. 12, 1940. J, A. BORDEN 2,221,213

' TAPE DISPENSER original Filed July 31, 1956 Jy- Hav/W Patented Nov. 12, 1940 PATENT OFFICE .REISSUE John A. Borden, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Minnesota Mining- & Manufacturing Company, Si Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware JUN 281949 .applic-anun July 31, 193s, serial No. 93,661 Renewed September 9, 1939 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates broadly to a device for sustaining and dispensing rolls of ribbon-like material and more particularly to a device for retaining and dispensing rolls of adhesive tape of a nature such that temporary adhesion between successive layers of the tape in the roll will normally prevent the tape from unrolling except when removed from the roll by the user.

This invention finds particular utility for holding and dispensing pressure sensitive adhesive tape, such. for example, as the ordinary surgeons tape and such tapes as are disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,760,820 to Richard G. Drew and other tapes wherein the adhesive coating is of a normally tacky and/or pressure sensitive nature.

Dispensers for such adhesive tapes, previously known to me have been objectionable from the standpoint of practical use in that they have not supplied a means for retaining the end of the tape which is removed from the rollin such a manner as to prevent an accidental reversal of the movement of the roll which would withdraw the loose end from the outlet and necessitate rethreading of the tape through the dispenser outlet upon the next occasion for removing a section of the tape. Furthermore, the dispensers previously known to me have been 3o objectionable in that the dispenser outlet has usually consisted of a closed passageway through which the tape must be threaded. Another objection to dispensers previously known to me lies in the fact that the end of the tape is not read- 35 ily accessible to be grasped by the use for withdrawal. Still further objections to dispensers previously known to me. reside in the fact that when such dispensers are placed upon a desk or 50 any desired length of the material from the roll, n

and further provided with means for retaining the free end of the tape in a convenient position for removal of a following portion of the tape, such means being adapted for preventing :.5 the accidental displacement of the free end 01 (Cl. 16d-84.5)

the tape from its proper position for the removal of a succeeding portion of the tape; the provision of an improved dispenser for a roll of adhesive tape so constructed thatreplacement rolls of the tape can be easily and readily in- 5 serted; and the provision of an improved dis penser for pressure sensitive tape which will aiord means for the eiiicient and accurate dispensing of the tape and thus avoid waste, and V wherein such means are visible at all times. l0

This invention has as a further object the provision of a container for tapes of such a construction and provided with such means as will enable it to remain rmly in place upon the supporting surface during use and at the same time i5 be easily removable from one place to another as desired, thus imparting to the device full portability.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a dispenser wherein the tree end of the tape is maintained in a position to be readily grasped by the user for withdrawing the tape for use.

The foregoing and such further objects and advantages as may appear or be pointed out as this description proceeds are contained in the structural embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view looking down upon the container.

Figure 2 is a side elevation view'partly in section.

Figure 3 is an end elevation view of the dispensing end of the dispenser, and

Figure 4 is a detail view of the combined severing and retaining means.

Referring now to the drawing, I provide a base portion lll, which is preferably made in a single casting of iron or other suitable metal to provide a member having considerable weight.- This base member is'provided with a plurality, conveniently four, rubber suction cups Il, fastened to the base Ill by threaded lug screws I2, which are screwed into complemental threaded apertures provided in the bottom of the base lil. Thus, due to the weight of the entire container assembly, particularly that of the basev l0, the suction cups il obtain a rm grip upon any surface i3, upon which it may be supported, and 50 effectively retain the dispenser in position during use while at the same time enabling it to be moved from place to placeif desired.

Upon the vbase I0 I provide a roll supporting structure comprising the two side walls I4 which 55 spectively which are fastened to the base member I0 by any convenient means such as, for instance. rivets or bolts 21|, all as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. Also supported by the member I8 I provide the member 22 which comprises the tape supporting severing and releasing means employed by me and is shown in detail in Figur 4. The member 22 is removably supported on the member I8 by means of a clamping member 23 which has a hole threaded to receive a screw 24 which passes through a complemental hole in the members I8 and I6 and through the slot 25 provided in the member 22. 'Ihe means for clamping the member 22 to the support is clearly shown in Figure 2. 'I'he side members I4, supporting members I1 and I8 and clamping member 23 are conveniently made out of any desired sheet metal having the required strength for the purposes of the structure. However, it is obvious that the side members I4 could be made of one or more sections of light cast material or of other suitable construction.

Reverting now to the combined sustaining, severing and retaining member indicated generally as 22, this comprises a piece of plate steel and includes the shank 26 provided with a slot 25 above referred to affording means for clamping this member in position on the support. 'I'he upper end of this member 22 is bent to provide a generally arched shaped portion indicated at 21 which may conveniently include a plurality of angularly related portions, as shown in Figure 4, or may have a single curved portion, but which in either case presents a supporting area indicated at 28 which serves as a means not only for supporting but for retaining the severed end of the tape as will be later described. The outer end of the member 22 beyond the arched portion is bent sharply upward to provide a severing portion generally indicated at 29 having a severing edge 30 which is conveniently serrated or formed of a plurality of sharp points or teeth as shown in Figure 4.

Reverting now to the side wall members I4, these are provided with notches 3|, preferably inclined, which receive the projecting nds of the shaft 32 of a drum 33. The drum, which is adapted to receive the roll of tape to be dispensed, is generally indicated at 34. The drum 33 is conveniently made of sheet' metal forming a closed cylinder of a thickness which can conveniently be accommodated between the spaced walls I4 so as to allow free rotation of the drum and shaft 32 in the notches 3|. The roll of tape is Wound upon a core 35, which usually fits snugly upon the drum 33.

The adhesive coated tape indicated at 36, when removed from the roll 34 pulls away from the roll ata constant angle due to the adhesion between the pressure sensitive adhesive coated side of the tape and the back ofthe underlying layer in the roll. 'I'he spindle notches 3| are so placed relative to the position of the area 28 and cutting edge 38 of the member 22 that the tape as removed assumes a substantially horizontal position as shown in Figure 2. Furthermore the relative elevation o1' the area 28 and the cutting edge also the tape being removed from the roll has its adhesive side downward.

Referring again to the side wall members I4, these are cut away beyond the spindle notches 3|l and adjacent to the end which supports the member 22 as shown at 31 to aiord easy access to that portion of the tape between roll 34 and the member 22.

'Ihus it will be readily seen that in the operation of this dispenser the roll of tape 34 is mounted upon the drum 33, which is then placed in the dispenser and supported by the shaft 32 in the notches 3|. The free end of the tape then passes from the roll over the area 28 and the cutting edge 30. The desired portion of the tape can then be removed by pulling upon the free end 36 and when the desired portion has been removed from the roll by merely bringing the tape downward it will first contact the area. 28 and be held in position by the adhesive action of the pressure sensitive coating of the tape upon the area 28; a further downward movement then causes the tape to come in contact with the severing edge 30 and the dispensed portion is thus severed. Subsequent portions are successively removed by grasping the portion 38 between the area 28 and the roll, lifting the tape slightly and again removing the desired portion by pulling upon the free end of the tape. Furthermore, when a portion has been removed the free end is retained in position by the adhesive action of the coating ofthe tape on the support 28 and also to a certain extent by the contact of the severed end with the severing blade.

It is further apparent that this device is effective in operation and eliminates *the need for elaborate dispensing apertures which make dini- ;:ult the threading of the tape through such aperures.

It is also apparent that between the support or area 28 and the severing edge 3|) there is a groove or trough 38 which is formed by the bending of the member 22. As the tape is dispensed and severed by edge 30 any excess of adhesive scraped or otherwise removed thereby is deposited in said groove or trough 38 and thusprevents the fouling of the severing edge 30. Further, obviously, the groove or trough facilitates the cleaning of the device, in that any residueof adhesive left on the teeth is forced down into the groove by the severing of the following piece'of tape and this accumulation of adhesive is removed from the trough from time to time, thus the teeth of the cutting serrated edge are kept clean.

It is believed that the operation and using of my invention has been fully described and disclosed in the above description of my invention.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use what I claim as. new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for dispensing adhesive tape of the pressure-sensitive type, a roller for supporting a coil of tape, a frame in which said'roller is supported for rotation, a standard formed on said frame opposite to and spaced from said roller, said standard carrying a. member having a. smooth, hard surface to which said tape will lightly and detachably adhere by reason of its pressure-sensitive coating, a cutting edge in advance of said hard-surfaced member, and a member.

2. A device for dispensing adhesive tape as set forth in claim 1 in which said hard-surfaced member, cutting edge and trough are formed as a unitary sheet metal strip. t

3. A device for dispensing tape coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising means for supporting Aa. roll of said pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, a severing edge and a surface positioned between said roll supporting means and said severing edge to which said tape will lightly and detachably adhere by reason of its 'pressuresensitive coating when brought into contact with said severing edge, there. being a free space between said tape engaging surface and said roll in a manner permitting the portion of tape extending from said roll to said surface to be grasped for detachment from said surface for withdrawal of a portion of said tape from said roll thereof.

4. A device for dispensing tape coated with a. pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising means for supporting a roll of said pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, a. severing edge and a surface positioned between said roll supporting means and said severing edge to which said tape will lightly and detachably adhere by reason of itspressuresensitive coating when brought into contact with said severing edge, said surface being spaced from said severing edge by an intervening valley.

5. A device suitable for dispensing tape coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, comprising means for supporting a roll of said pressuresensitive adhesive tape and a severing edge to which said tape will lightly and detachably adhere by reasony of its pressure-sensitive coating when brought into contact with said severing edge, said severing edge being separated by free space from the position normally occupied by the periphery of said roll between said supporting means and said severing edge, in a. manner permitting a portion of the tape extending from said roll to said edge to be grasped for the detachment from said edge for the withdrawal of a 20 portion of said tape from said roll thereof.

J Omi A. BORDEN. 

